Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Brickmasons and Blockmasons
Brickmasons and Blockmasons lay and bind building materials, such as brick, structural tile, concrete block, cinder block, glass block, and terra-cotta block, with mortar and other substances, to construct or repair walls, partitions, arches, sewers, and other structures.
Table of contents
What they do
Brickmasons and Blockmasons lay and bind building materials, such as brick, structural tile, concrete block, cinder block, glass block, and terra-cotta block, with mortar and other substances, to construct or repair walls, partitions, arches, sewers, and other structures.
- Measure distance from reference points and mark guidelines to lay out work, using plumb bobs and levels.
- Construct corners by fastening in plumb position a corner pole or building a corner pyramid of bricks, and filling in between the corners using a line from corner to corner to guide each course, or layer, of brick.
- Apply and smooth mortar or other mixture over the work surface.
- Calculate angles and courses and determine the vertical and horizontal alignment of courses.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Brickmasons and Blockmasons apply and smooth mortar or other mixture over the work surface. They remove excess mortar with trowels and hand tools, and finish mortar joints with jointing tools, for a sealed, uniform appearance.
A typical day for a Brickmason and Blockmason will also include:
- Measure distance from reference points and mark guidelines to lay out work, using plumb bobs and levels.
- Clean working surface to remove scale, dust, soot, or chips of brick and mortar, using a broom, wire brush, or scraper.
- Fasten or fuse brick or other building material to structure with wire clamps, anchor holes, torch, or cement.
- Construct corners by fastening in plumb position a corner pole or building a corner pyramid of bricks, and filling in between the corners using a line from corner to corner to guide each course, or layer, of brick.
- Break or cut bricks, tiles, or blocks to size, using a trowel edge, hammer, or power saw.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Brickmasons and Blockmasons also remove burned or damaged brick or mortar, using a sledgehammer, crowbar, chipping gun, or chisel. They may also examine brickwork or structure to determine the need for repair.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Brickmasons and Blockmasons mix specified amounts of sand, clay, dirt, or mortar powder with water to form refractory mixtures. They might also interpret blueprints and drawings to determine specifications and to calculate the materials required.
In addition, they clean the working surfaces to remove scale, dust, soot, or chips of brick and mortar, using a broom, wire brush, or scraper.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them fasten or fuse brick or other building material to structure with wire clamps, anchor holes, torch, or cement.
To some Brickmasons and Blockmasons, it is also their responsibility to spray or spread refractory material over brickwork to protect against deterioration.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
52% said they were satisfied with their job and 57% said they found their job meaningful.
My name is James and for 15 years I’ve been a brickmason in Malta where bricks weigh approx 40kg.
Being a brickmason is a satisfying job where you get to see a creation taking place. On the other hand, it’s a hard job. Not only is the job challenging but we also face all the elements like rain, wind, and the 40 degree temperatures in summer.
A typical day usually starts before the sun has come up. I’m usually on site before the sun rises unless it’s the longer summer days.
Most often a site foreman takes care of organizing all his workers. In the meantime, we will have discussed what part of the construction site we are going to be working on for that day or week.
My responsibilities include placement of windows and doors, what height lintels and concrete slab are coming (as to end the bricks at the right level).
Placement of walls, doors, and lintel, and slab height are marked by the surveyor. But I always give a second check and confirm with the plan.
One thing to keep in mind is that everyone is waiting for the brick Mason to finish his job. I constantly get complaints that the concrete carpenters and steel fixers will soon finish their job and need to start closing the part I’m working in. That is the most stressful part.
It is also imperative to have a clear working space. Although cleaning isn’t my job, it is my responsibility to communicate with the site foreman to send over the labor guys for any clearing up. Having the working space organized also helps work more comfortably and most of all it is much safer.
Once all the above has been settled, which I do before the working day starts since I’m self-employed, I prepare the mortar and communicate with the crane operator to send over the bricks I will need.
The rest of the day I will be lining the bricks on the wall, next, giving mortar and placing the bricks, and cutting the joint.
Once 6/7 courses are in place, I prepare a platform for the remaining 4 or 5 courses. A standard storey is between 275cm and 290 depending on what needs to be done beneath the finish floor level: ie: drainage, electrical, water pipes, etc.
Typically an apartment of 1500 sq feet takes 2 weeks to complete the masonry work. And it is rare to be on a project of just 1 apartment on each storey.
In the case of a block of apartments, once the masonry work is complete on one apartment, the carpenters come in and the brick Mason moves on to the next apartment. And so on for the entire project.
Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work outdoors.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Short working hours (Less than 40 hours per week).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
Salary is below average.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Brickmasons and Blockmasons with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $34,250 to $43,220 per year or $16 to $21 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $89,380 | $43 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $69,440 | $33 |
| Median | $55,080 | $26 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $43,220 | $21 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $34,250 | $16 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Brickmasons and Blockmasons based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | $75990 | $36.53 |
| Local Government | $72060 | $34.65 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $71030 | $34.15 |
| Nonferrous Metal Production and Processing | $70080 | $33.69 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | $67320 | $32.37 |
| Rail Transportation | $66420 | $31.93 |
| Utility System Construction | $63280 | $30.42 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | $61760 | $29.69 |
| Residential Building Construction | $60960 | $29.31 |
| Building Finishing Contractors | $60710 | $29.19 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Brickmasons and Blockmasons work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Brickmasons and Blockmasons including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | 46920 | $57910 | $27.84 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 3240 | $67320 | $32.37 |
| Residential Building Construction | 2170 | $60960 | $29.31 |
| Building Finishing Contractors | 1960 | $60710 | $29.19 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 1630 | $55390 | $26.63 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 380 | $49830 | $23.96 |
| Local Government | 380 | $72060 | $34.65 |
| Employment Services | 360 | $60460 | $29.07 |
| Federal Executive Branch | 260 | $59760 | $28.73 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | 210 | $57010 | $27.41 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
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Telephone
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Group discussions
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Public speaking
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Level of competition
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What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Mason/Masonry
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
They also like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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